Guillaume Boivin wins stage one at Mi-Août en Bretagne UCI 2.2
August 12, 2010 – Pontrieux France, Guillaume Boivin of SpiderTech powered by Planet Energy wins the 1st stage at Mi-Août en Bretagne UCI 2.2 stage race and will wear the yellow leader’s jersey for Stage 2.
Twenty six teams of six riders each lined up for the start of stage 1 in Plouec-du-Trieux, Brittany, France. Team SpiderTech predicted that it would be an aggressive race and difficult for six rider teams to control. It was planned to race from the front, ensure the team covered the breakaways and never miss important big splits in the peloton. After only 40 km a lead group of approximately 25 rides emerged containing 3 SpiderTech powered by Planet Energy men: David Boily, Guillaume Boivin and Keven Lacombe. Most teams were represented in front but shortly thereafter a counter-attack group joined making the front group grow in size to 34 men. The peloton had no more interest to make the chase and the lead group cruised away. The 177 km stage finished with 9 laps of a tough 8.2 km, narrow, technical circuit with an 800 metres hill which began steeply and topped out with some sustained false flat. After 2 laps the attacks began with David Boily following a breakaway of five men including riders from Bretagne-Schuller, Cofidis, Cotes d’Armor and BKCP-PowerPlus.
From behind a counter attack including Boivin was launched the following lap. The chase group had difficulty to bridge the 30 seconds to the lead so Boily dropped back to the aid of Boivin. Without support of the others in the chase they were absorbed by the remainder of the lead peloton of 20 riders. With 2 laps remaining Keven Lacombe and David Boily aimed at the front for an all out final chase to reduce the 3 leaders 1 minute gap with the tactic of giving Boivin a chance to win the sprint. Crossing the finish line at 1 lap remaining the SpiderTech powered by Planet Energy duo of Lacombe and Boily had reduced the lead to a mere 11 seconds. On the final climb up the hill Boivin waited patiently to attack as none from the chase group was willing to attack first. At the mid point of the ascent Boivin opened up one attack then waited some more. Finally as the hill crested he made an all out attempt to bridge to the leaders over the false flat summit. At the turn to enter the descent Boivin had bridged to the front group with one other rider making lead breakaway 5 men at 15 seconds to the chase.
In the flat sprint for the victory Guillaume blasted his competitors taking the win and the Yellow jersey. Team-mates Lacombe and Boily finished off the pace having sacrificed all for the team victory. The rest of team SpiderTech finished in the peloton.
